Kevin Youkilis: Avoid false starts

Old pal insists key is Lester, Buchholz

Credit: AP

TAG, YOU’RE OUT: Jose Iglesias holds up his glove after the Yankees’ Brett Gardner was caught stealing in the first inning last night in New York.

NEW YORK — Take it from Kevin Youkilis: Of all the positives that emerged from the Red Sox’ first two games, two stood out above the rest.

Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz pitched like aces again.

As much as anybody, Youkilis understands the impact Lester and Buchholz have on the Red Sox’ fortunes. To wit: As poorly as the Sox played in September 2011, they still may have staved off an epic collapse if only Lester had pitched well in any of his final four starts or if Buchholz hadn’t been sidelined by a stress fracture in his back.

So, as a newcomer to an injury-ravaged Yankees team that was outscored 15-6 by the Sox in the season’s first two games, Youkilis’ biggest takeaway was the back-to-back strong outings by Lester and Buchholz.

“It’s only one start, so you really can’t tell, but I just think, as everyone knows, those are the guys that are going to make them click this year,” said Youkilis, who spent eight seasons with the Sox before being traded last June and signing with the Yanks in the offseason. “If those guys go well, the team will do a lot better. If they don’t, it’s probably not going to be a good year for them. They’re the top dogs on that team.”

Lester was effective, if not especially economical, on Opening Day. He didn’t yield a hit until the third inning and was primed to pitch deep into the game until a 34-pitch fourth ratcheted his pitch count. His only real mistake came on a two-strike cutter to Francisco Cervelli, who lined it to left field for a two-run single in the Sox’ 8-2 win.

Buchholz was even better Wednesday night, giving up little more than a solo home run to Travis Hafner over seven stellar innings. It was the reverse of last season, when Youkilis was present to witness Buchholz post a 9.09 ERA through his first six starts.

“Pitching-wise, it looks like he’s back,” Youkilis said. “He’s a little different, though. I remember when Clay was throwing 95. That’s why I was surprised last night. His velocity wasn’t the same as it used to be. But that doesn’t mean anything. You can pitch without velocity. He has the stuff to do it.”

And although Youkilis hates to say it, he knows it’s true: If Lester and Buchholz continue to pitch well, the Red Sox can be playoff contenders.

“Those guys had a down year last year, no question about it,” Youkilis said. “But it’s a new year. They still have the best stuff on the team, pitching-wise, and they showed that (this week). We’ll see where it takes them. But if they pitch up to their capabilities, they’ll be fine.”

Reckless & relentless

During spring training, manager John Farrell expressed his desire for the Red Sox to have a “relentless” style on the bases.

Shane Victorino may have taken it too far.

In the first inning, Victorino tried to score from second base on a wild pitch after he noticed Yankees starter Andy Pettitte wasn’t covering home plate. But Victorino also hesitated slightly around third base and was tagged out when catcher Cervelli dove back to block the plate.

“That’s the stuff we talked about in spring training — being aggressive, taking advantage of those things,” Victorino said. “But when I made up my mind, I was like a step after the (third base) bag. If I take that from two steps before the bag and I keep the momentum going, I probably would’ve beat him to the plate. That was the only part that I kind of kicked myself in the butt.”

Said Farrell, “Shane’s an aggressive baserunner. In this case, it didn’t work out.” . . .

First baseman Lyle Overbay spent nearly all of spring training with the Red Sox before requesting his release. He was picked up by the Yankees, and in the second inning, he hurt the Red Sox by delivering a two-run single in New York’s 4-2 win. Overbay also started a pivotal double play in the eighth.

Ross is catchy

When David Ross agreed to a two-year, $6.2 million contract with the Red Sox, he came with a reputation as a strong defensive catcher. Making his first start last night, he lived up to the billing, throwing out Brett Gardner and Eduardo Nunez trying to steal second.

“It’s a lot of fun to throw guys out,” said Ross, who credited shortstop Jose Iglesias on a pair of tags and starter Ryan Dempster for a quick move to the plate. “I threw the guys out, it goes in my stats, but I’ve got to give a lot of credit to those guys.”

Drew hitless

In the first game of his minor league rehab assignment, Stephen Drew went 1-for-3 and played five innings at shortstop for Double-A Portland. Drew, recovering from a concussion sustained March 7, may be ready to rejoin the Sox for Monday’s home opener.

Meanwhile, fill-in shortstop Jose Iglesias went 2-for-3, marking his third consecutive multi-hit game. In his first 35 major league games, Iglesias only once notched more than one hit. . . .

Making his first appearance for Portland, reliever Daniel Bard walked one and gave up a two-run homer. . . .

In Fort Myers, reliever Franklin Morales (back) threw a 25-pitch live batting practice and 25 pitches in the bullpen and “came out of that fine,” Farrell said. Fellow lefty Craig Breslow threw another bullpen session. When they’re ready for games, they’ll pitch in extended spring training before minor league rehab assignments.